DETE residents are fuming over National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) after the parastatal reportedly hiked its housing rentals.
The Zambezi Times learnt this week that NRZ increased its housing rentals at its Dete houses.
The company is reportedly demanding US$60 for a room in a high density suburb.
This has seen a lot of people being destitute with no place to stay.
Residents who spoke to this publication accused NRZ of insensitivity.
“We used to pay our rentals in local currency but NRZ changed things and demanded US$60 a room and l was forced to leave the room,” said one Thomas Moyo.
“This is insensitive and now l am squatting with a friend,” added Moyo.
Another resident Joyce Tshuma said: “I worked for NRZ for a lot of years and this is how they thank me. Where do they expect me to get the foreign currency when l receive my pension in local currency”.
Other Dete residents accused NRZ of chucking them out in order to accommodate Chinese nationals.
“They want to rent out those houses to Chinese. We have seen many Chinese of late and l know of a woman who was chucked out and a Chinese took over her house,” said John Mwale.
Efforts to get a comment from NRZ hit a brick wall as company spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika was not picking phone.
Dete, is located in Hwange district in Matabeleland North province.
